Between the vines: Livermore Valley's Crooked Vine's got Moxie

Between the Vines is a biweekly column on wine and winemaking in the Livermore Valley region. This column was contributed by Rick Corbett, owner of Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge Winery.

Winery name: Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge Winery

Owners: Rick, Pam and Eric Corbett

About us: The original Stony Ridge Winery was established in 1887 at the historic Ruby Hills site in Pleasanton. In 1975, a group of young enthusiastic winemakers leased the current Livermore property and continued Stony Ridge Winery. In 2000, the Vaughn family purchased the winery and expanded, creating an additional label, Crooked Vine.

My family purchased Crooked Vine Winery and Stony Ridge Winery in 2007. We had been growing grapes for more than 12 years and wanted to create estate-grown wines, controlling the winemaking process from fruit to bottle. Through hard work and persistence, we have succeeded in creating world-class estate wines that have won international and local awards.

At our location on Tesla Road in the Livermore Valley, we offer a tasting room, wedding and events facility and a picnic area.

Our wines: We produce 5,000 cases of wine each year -- all made from grapes grown in our family-owned vineyard, Del Arroyo. Located at the top of Crane Ridge in Livermore Valley, the 160-acre vineyard produces about 800 tons of fruit annually.

One of our most popular wines this year is our 2009 Moxie Blend. It is 45 percent cabernet sauvignon, 33 percent merlot, 15 percent Cabernet Franc and 7 percent Petit Verdot. This wine has won platinum medals at the San Diego International Wine Competition, gold at both the Alameda County Fair and San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competitions and silver at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Our least expensive wine is the $19 Sparkling Malvasia Bianca and the most expensive is our Petite Sirah at $34.

Holiday specials: During Holidays in the Vineyards, Livermore Valley's wine country open house on December 1 and 2, we will offer cupcake pairings with Lil' Something Sweet, hot apple cider, a 10 percent discount on six bottles and $15 percent off a case purchase.

Hours and tasting fee: Our tasting room is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. We charge $5 for five tastes and the tasting fee is refunded with bottle purchase.

Location: We are located at 4948 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA 94550. Contact us at 925-449-0458 or www.crookedvine.com.

wine country events

Holiday Wine Tasting -- Nov. 17-18 from noon to 5 p.m. Fenestra Winery, 83 Vallecitos Road, Livermore, CA 94550; www.fenestrawinery.com. Cost is $15. Fenestra's award-winning wines and the foods of the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, are highlighted at this festive event. Father Nature's Restaurant Hideaway of Danville will pair holiday foods with Fenestra wines including new wines for the holidays.

Fall Open House -- Nov. 23-25 from noon to 5 p.m. Thomas Coyne Winery, 51 E. Vallecitos Road, Livermore, CA 94550; www.thomascoynewinery.com. Cost is free. Please join us for our Fall Open House at the historic tasting room. We plan to release five new wines including the first Sparkling Wine methode champenoise and will serve a selection of fine fruits and cheeses.